Screw-capped containers and safety devices therefor



P. M. JESSOP Feb. 8, 1966 SCREW-CAPPED CONTAINERS AND SAFETY DEVICESTHEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1964 PETER M. JESSOP BYI @wcfl{Kn-gas PATENT AGENTS Feb. 8, 1966 J sso 3,233,769

SCREW-CAPPED CONTAINERS AND SAFETY DEVICES THEREFOR Filed March 2, 19642 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. l2 FIG."

PETER M. JESSOP BY: l'ifiogxns PATENT AGENTS United States Patent3,233,769 SCREW-(IAPPED CONTAINERS AND SAFETY DEVICES THEREFGR Peter M.Jessop, 908 Bishop Place, Aneaster, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 2, 1964,Ser. No. 348,654 13 Claims. (Cl. 2159) The present invention isconcerned with improvements in or relating to screw-capped containersand safety devices therefor.

In recent years there has been an enormous increase in the number ofchemicals that are sold for common use in the household, such chemicalsvarying in toxicity from those that are fatally poisonous in relativelysmall quantities, as in the case of some insecticides, to those that areonly dangerous if ingested in large quantities, such as many toiletpreparations. There has been a corresponding increase in the number ofpharmaceutical compounds that are commonly used, both with and without adoctors prescription, and again such compounds vary widely in theirtoxicity.

The toxicity of an ingested chemical compound is usually directlyrelated to the weight of the person who has taken it, and a quantity ofa particular compound that can safely be taken by an adult may befatally poisonous to a small child. There is also a substantial degreeof ignorance on the part of the general public of the toxicity of manychemical and pharmaceutical compounds that are commonly used in thehousehold and, for example, approximately half of the deaths frompoisoning among small children are caused by the commonestpain-relieving pharmaceutical substance acetylsalicylic acid. Thisunhappy situation is compounded by the attitude of indifference of thegeneral public unless they have been directly involved in a case ofpoisoning, and the tendency in recent years to provide pharmaceuticalcompounds with pleasant tastes to make them more readily acceptable tothe taker.

The rapid increase in the number of cases of accidental poisoning hascaused extreme concern to the professional pharmaceutical associations,and many have instituted extensive research programmes on the problemand ways in which such cases can be prevented. A theoretical answer tothe problem is to provide for substances of greater than a predeterminedtoxicity a container which can only be opened by an adult, but such acontainer already exists in the form of a lockable cupboard or medicinechest, and in practice any container which can meet these requirementswill cause such inconvenience to adult users that it will not beaccepted by the general public.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, in combination witha screw-capped container, means for preventing accidental removal of thecap from the container.

It is also an object to provide means adapted for application to such acontainer for preventing such accidental removal of the cap.

According to the present invention there is provided in combination witha screw-capped container wherein the cap and the container are rotatablerelative to one another about an axis from a. fully-open condition in aclosing direction for securing the cap on the container, and from afully-closed condition in the opposite opening direction for removingthe cap therefrom, means for preventing accidental removal of the capfrom the container comprising a projection member on one of the cap andthe container and a cooperating member on the other thereof, the saidprojection and cooperating members providing corresponding surfaces thatare generally radially-disposed with respect to the said axis and aredisposed and adapted to engage one another after rotation of a 3,233,769Patented Feb. 8, 1966 predetermined extent from the fully closedcondition in the said opening direction and upon such engagement toprevent further rotation in the opening direction, at least one of thesaid projection and cooperating members having at least a part providingthe said radially-disposed surface manually deflectable out of itsgeneral plane for disengagement of the said surfaces to permit the saidfurther relative rotation in the opening direction.

Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described,by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment,

FIGURE 2 is a section of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1, taken on the line2-2 of that figure,

FIGURES 3 to 5 are perspective views of three further embodiments,

FIGURE 6 is a section similar to that of FIGURE 2, of a furtherembodiment,

FIGURES 7 to 9 and 12 are perspective views of still furtherembodiments, and

FIGURE is a section on the line 1010 of FIG- URE 9.

In all of the figures of the drawing similar parts are given the samereference number. Moreover, it will be understood that for clarity ofillustration many of the parts are shown with dimensions exaggerated orreduced.

FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings are intended to illustrate any type ofcontainer 15 which is provided with a cap 16, and wherein the cap andcontainer are connected to one another by a screw thread. It will beunderstood that the cap and container are rotatable relative to oneanother about a common axis, from a fullyopen condition in a closingdirection to secure the cap on the container, and from a fully-closedcondition in an opening direction to remove the cap therefrom. In all ofthe embodiments illustrated, and almost universally in commercialpractice, the said closing direction will be a clockwise rotation of thecap and vice versa for the said opening direction.

In accordance with this invention the cap 16 is provided with anaxially, downwardly extending projection member 17, the part of whichthat extends below the lower perimeter of the cap provides a surface 18that is generally radially-disposed with respect to the said axis ofrotation. The neck of the container 15 is provided with a cooperatingmember 19 having a surface 26 that is also generally radially-disposedwith respect to the said axis of rotation. As shown in solid lines inFIGURE 1 the cap is in its fully-closed condition, and a limited amountof rotation of a predetermined extent is possible before the surfaces 18and 2G engage one another, thereby preventing further rotation towardthe fully-open condition. In order to continue the rotation the part ofthe projection member 17 providing the surface 18 must be deflected outof the general plane thereof until the surfaces 18 and 20 no longerengage one another. Such deflection can only be obtained uponperformance of a manual operation of the person wishing to open thebottle and accidental opening is not therefore possible.

The surface 21 of the cooperating member 19 has the form of a ramp ofprogressively increasing radial extent from the axis of rotation, sothat upon rotation of the cap in the closing direction the projectionmember is progressively deflected out of its general plane, Withoutundue effort being required in rotating the cap, and without the need ofa separate manual operation by the user.

A principal purpose in the particular mode of operation of a device inaccordance with the invention is to prevent, as far as possible, theremoval of the cap by young children, so that they are unable to gainaccess to the contents even if the container has inadvertently been left'3? in their reach. This purpose is to a large extent achieved since,for the size of container and the age of the child which are of primaryconcern, the child does not have suflicient manipulative skill tosimultaneously hold the container, rotate the cap, and deflect theprojection member to the extent necessary for its complete removal fromthe container. It will be understood-that the degree of difficulty inthe deflection of the projection member can be controlled by variationof any one or more of a number of factors, such as the radial extent ofthe surfaces 18 and 20 the radial location of these surfaces relative toone another, the radial thickness of the projection member 18, and theresilience of the material from which the projection member is formed.It will be appreciated that with materials of low toxicity a relativelyeasily deflect able member may sufiice, while for extremely poisonousmaterials the member may be made so stiff that even adults may havedifficulty in deflecting it to the necessary extent.

In practice, there is always the possibility that the cap will beovertightened or otherwise jammed in the fullyclosed position. Forexample, many liquid pharmaceutical preparations will partiallyevaporate leaving a highly adhesive residue and some will almostinevitably lodge in the screw-thread and prevent rotation of the cap.Therefore, in a practical embodiment, the projection and cooperatingmembers must be so located relative to one another that theircooperating surfaces do not engage until a small amount of relativerotation has taken place, giving an opportunity to release the cap fromthe said jamming or adhesion with the container. A rotation of aboutfive degrees will usually be sufficient, although a slightly smaller orconsiderably larger angle can be permitted. Preferably, and asillustrated for this embodirnent, the axial extent of the cooperatingsurfaces 18 and 20 are made such relative to the pitch of thescrewthread between the cap and container that upon a single completerotation the surfaces can no longer engage, the cap having moved axiallyto the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by the broken lines.

Also as illustrated by FIGURE 1, the ease or difficulty of deflection ofthe projection member may be controlled by the provision of a part 22 ofreduced radial thickness between the part of the projection member thatprovides the surface 18 and the remainder of the member, the part 22serving as hinge about which the lower end of the member 17 may morereadily be bent. The part 22 also enables a user wishing to dispensewith the safety device to remove the lower end of the projection memberreadily by cutting through the said part.

As illustrated by FIGURE 2, two safety devices may be provided that mustbe manipulated simultaneously for full removal of the cap, the seconddevice being shown in broken lines and the parts thereof being givenprimed references. The two devices are illustrated as being disposeddiametrically opposite to one another, but they can be disposed at anyconvenient angle.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIGURE 3, the projection member 17 isprovided on the container neck and extends radially upward, while thecooperating member 19 is provided on the cap. FIGURE 4 shows anembodiment in which the projection member has its major dimensionextending radially outwards from the cap. In other embodiments theprojection may have its major dimension extending intermediate betweenthe fully radial and the fully axial directions.

In all of the embodiments so far described the projection andcooperating members preferably are prodhced integrally with the cap orcontainer as the case may be, e.g. by being moulded from plasticmaterial, but in the embodiment illustrated by FIGURE 5 the projectionmember 17 is provided on a ring or band 23a adapted to embrace the cap16, while the cooperating member 19 is provided on a similar ring orband 23b adapted to embrace the neck of the container 15. With such anar- 4t rangement either the cap, or the container, or both, may forexample be of metal or glass, the bands being formed from a suitableplastic material and fastened to their respective component by press orforce fitting or cementing, etc.

FIGURE 6 is intended to illustrate that the surfaces 18 and 29 need notin some embodiments be truly radial- 1y disposed with respect to theaxis of rotation. These surfaces may also be inclined in the oppositedirection, but the extent of such opposite inclination is limited inthat beyond a certain inclination they will cooperate as ramp surfacesand no longer act as stop surfaces in accordance with the invention. Thefigure also illustrates that the surface 24 of the projection member maybe formed as a ramp surface which may cooperate with or replace the rampsurface 21 of the cooperating member 19.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 7, the projection membe 17 is provided witha part 25 which can readily be engaged by a finger or thumb of the userto assist in the manual deflection of the lower end of the member 17.

The embodiment of FIGURE 8 is intended principally for use with highlytoxic materials and the projection member 17 is made so stiff that itcannot be deflected out of its general plane by hand alone, but must belevered out by means of a levering tool such as 26, which may forexample :bea pharmacists spatula. Accordingly, the part of the member 17providing the surface 13 is so shaped and disposed relative to the neckof the container that a space 27 is provided for insertion of said tool26.

The embodiments of FIGURES 9 to 12 show ways in which the safety devicemay be incorporated in a screwtopped container which is required to havea decorative appearance. In the embodiment of FIGURES 9 and 10 theprojection member 17 is hidden behind one of a series of decorativescallops 28 surrounding the cap, while in that of FIGURE 11 the member17 is struck out of the material of the cap. The container of FIGURE 12is intended for liquids of relatively low toxicity, such as toiletpreparations, with which it is desired that the safety device -bemanipulated relatively easily. To this end the projection member isprovided with an extension 29, having a part 36 thereof engaging theoutside of the container to form a pivot, and an end part 31 forengagement by the users fingers. As the end part 31 is moved radiallyinwards towards the container 15 the surface 18 is moved radiallyoutward until the cap can be removed without engagement between thesurfades 18 and 20.

Although in all the embodiments described herein the projection member17 is illustrated as being integral with its associated cap, containeror collar 22, and is movable to disen age the surfaces 18 and 20 againstthe resilience of the material of the member, it is contemplated that inother embodiments not illustrated herein this may not be the case. Forexample, it is also contemplated that the part of the projection memberproviding the surface 18 is pivoted to the remainder of the member andmust be moved against the biasing force provided by a separate spring todisengage the surfaces and continue the opening rotation.

Other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims, comprisingdiflerent combinations of the individual features herein disclosed, willbe apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. Means for preventing accidental removal of the cap from ascrew-capped container wherein the cap and container are rotatablerelative to one another about an axis from a fully-opened condition to afully-closed condition, comprising a collar adapted for embracernent ofthe cap and providing an axially and downwardly extending projectionmember having at least a part thereof providing .a generallyradially-extending surface, and a collar adapted for enrbracement of thecontainer and providing a cooperating ramp member having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radiallyextendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefully-closed condition toward the fully-opened condition, suchengagement preventing further rotation toward the fully-open condition,the said projection member being capable of and requiring manualdeflection of the said part providing the radially-extending surface outof its general plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further relative rotationtoward the fully-open condition, the said cooperating member providing aramp surface adapted to engage the said part of the other memberproviding the radially-disposed surface upon rotation toward thefully-closed condition and to deflect the said projection part out ofits general plane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projection memberhas a first part thereof providing the said radially-extending engagingsurface and another part thereof connecting the member to the cap, thesaid other part having at least a portion thereof of reduced dimensionsto constitute a hinge portion between the said first part and theremainder of the other part, about which hinge portion the saiddeflection out of the general plane can take place.

3. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from .a fully-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radially-extending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generally radiallyextendingsurface engageable with the radially-extending projection surface afterrotation of a predetermined extent from the fully-closed conditiontoward the fullyopen condition, such engagement preventing furtherrotation toward the fully-open condition, the said projection memberbeing capable of and requiring manual deflection of the said partproviding the radially-extending surface out of its general planeagainst the resilience of the material thereof for disengagement of thesaid surfaces to permit further relative rotation toward the fullyopencondition, an extension of the said projection member constituting alever arm adapted upon manual displacement thereof toward the containerto cause the said deflection of the said part in the direction requiredto effect displacement of the radially-disposed surfaces.

4. In combination with a screw-capped container wherein the cap and thecontainer are rotatable relative to one another about an axis from afully-open condition in a closing direction for securing the cap on thecontainer, and from a fully-closed condition in the opposite openingdirection for removing the cap therefrom, means for preventingaccidental removal of the cap from the container comprising a projectionmember on one of the cap and the container and a cooperating member onthe other thereof, the said projection and cooperating members providingcorresponding surfaces that are generally radially-disposed with respectto the said axis and are disposed and adapted to engage one anotherafter rotation of a predetermined extent from the fully-closed conditionin the said opening direction and upon such engagement to preventfurther rotation in the opening direction, at least the one of the saidprojection and cooperating members carried by the cap having at least apart providing the said radially-disposed surface manually deflectableout of its general plane for disengagement of the said surface to permitthe said further relative rotation in the opening direction, the saidmember carried by the cap comprising a first part thereof providing thesaid engaging surface and another part thereof connecting the member tothe cap, the said another 6 part having at least a portion thereof ofreduced dimensions to constitute a hinge portion between the said firstpart and the remainder of the said another part, about which hingeportion the said deflection out of the general plane can take place.

5. In combination with a screw-capped container wherein the cap and thecontainer are rotatable relative to one another about an axis from afully-open condition in a closing direction for securing the cap on thecontainer, and from a fully-closed condition in the opposite openingdirection for removing the cap therefrom, means for preventingaccidental removal of the cap from the container comprising a projectionmember on one of the cap and the container and a cooperating member onthe other thereof, the said projection and cooperating members providingcorresponding surfaces that are generally radially-disposed with respectto the said axis and are disposed and adapted to engage one anotherafter rotation of a predetermined extent from the fully-closed conditionin the said opening direction and upon such engagement to preventfurther rotation in the opening direction, at least the one of the saidprojection and cooperating members carried by the cap having at least apart providing the said radially-disposed surface manually deflectableout of its general plane for disengagement of the said surfaces topermit the said further relative rotation in the opening direction, thesaid member having an extension thereof constituting a lever arm adaptedupon manual displacement thereof in one direction to cause thedeflection of the said part in the direction required to effectdisengagement of the radiallydisposed surfaces.

6. In combination with a screw-capped container wherein the cap and thecontainer are rotatable relative to one another about an axis from afully-open condition in a closing direction for securing the cap on thecontainer, and from a fully-closed condition in the opposite openingdirection for removing the cap therefrom, means for preventingaccidental removal of the cap from the container comprising a projectionmember on one of the cap and the container and a cooperating member onthe other thereof, the said projection and cooperating members providingcorresponding surfaces that are generally radially-disposed with respectto the said axis and are disposed and adapted to engage one anotherafter rotation of a predetermined extent from the fully-closed conditionin the said opening direction and upon such engagement to preventfurther rotation in the opening direction, at least the one of the saidprojection and cooperating members carried by the cap having at least apart providing the said radially-disposed surface manually deflectableout of its general plane for disengagement of the said surfaces topermit the said further relative rotation in the opening direction, thepitch of the screw-thread between the cap and the container and theaxial extent of the said projection and cooperating members being suchthat the said radially-extending surfaces of the projection andcooperating members cannot again engage after a single turn from thefully-closed position.

7. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fully-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radially-extending surface, and acooperting member on the continer having a generally radially-extendingsurface engageable with the radially-extending projection surface afterrotation of a predetermined extent from the fully-closed conditiontoward the fully-open condition, such engagement preventing furtherrotation toward the fully-open condition, the said projection memberbeing capable of and requiring manual deflection of the said partproviding the radially-extending surface out of its general planeagainst the resilience of the material thereof for disengagement of thesaid surfaces to permit further relative rotation toward the fully-opencondition, the said cooperating member providing a ramp surface adaptedto engage the said part of the other member providing theradially-disposed surface upon rotation toward the fully-closedcondition and to deflect the said projection part out of its generalplane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition, the pitch of thescrew-thread between the cap and the container and the axial extent ofthe said projection and cooperating members being such that the saidradially-extending surfaces of the projection and, cooperating memberscannot again engage after a single turn from the fully-closed position.

8. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fuliy-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radiallyextending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fully-open condition, such engagementpreventing further rotation toward the fullyopen condition, the saidprojection member being capable of and requiring manual deflection ofthe said part providing the radially-extending surface out of itsgeneral plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further reiative rotationtoward the fully-open condition, the said projection member providing aramp surface adapted to engage the said cooperating member upon rotationtoward the fully-closed condition and to deflect itself out of itsgeneral plane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition, thepitch of the screw-thread between the cap and the container and theaxial extent of the said projection and cooperating members being suchthat the said radiallyextending surfaces of the projection andcooperating members cannot again engage after a single turn from thefullyclosed position.

9. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fully-open condition to a fully closed condition, means forpreventing accitental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radiallyextending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fully-open condition, the said suchengagement preventing further rotation toward the fully-open condition,the said projection member being capable of and requiringmanualdeflection of the said part providing the radially-extendingsurface out of its general plane against the resilience of the materialthereof for disengagement of the said surfaces to permit furtherrelative rotation toward the fully-open condition, the said projectionmember being provided with a radiallyand axiallyextending surface forengagement by a manual operator to effect the said deflection of thepart providing the radially-extending surface, the pitch of thescrew-thread between the cap and the container and the axial extent ofthe said projection and cooperating members being such that the saidradially-extending surfaces of the projection and cooperating memberscannot again engage after a single turn from the fully-closed position.

10. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fully-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardiy extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radially-extending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generallyradially-extending surface en gageabie with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fuliy-open condition, such engagernentpreventing further rotation toward the fullyopen condition, the saidprojection member being capable of and requiring manual deflection ofthe said part providing the radially-extending surface out of itsgeneral plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further relative rotationtoward the fully-open condition, the said cooperating member providing aramp surface adapted to engage the said part of the other memberproviding the radiallydisposed surface upon rotation toward thefully-closed condition and to deflect the said projection part out ofits general plane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition, thesaid projection member having a first part thereof providing the saidradially-extending engaging surface and another part thereof connectingthe member to the cap, the said other part having at least a portionthereof of reduced dimensions to constitute a hinge portion between thesaid first part and the remainder of the other part, about which hingeportion the said deflection out of the general plane can take place.

11. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fullyopen condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising a radially outwardlyextending projection member on the cap and having at least a partthereof providing a generally radiailyextending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fully-open condition, such engagementpreventing further rotation toward the fullyopen condition, the saidprojection member being capable of and requiring manual deflection ofthe said part providing the radially-extending surface out of itsgeneral plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further relative rotationtoward the fully-open condition, the said cooperating member providing aramp surface adapted to engage the said part of the other memberproviding the radially-disposed surface upon rotation toward thefullyclosed condition and to deflect the said projection part out of itsgeneral plane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition, the saidprojection member having a first part thereof providing the saidradially-extending engaging surface and another part thereof connectingthe member to the cap, the said other part having at least a portionthereof of reduced dimensions to constitute a hinge portion between thesaid first part and the remainder of the other part, about which hingeportion the said deflection out of the general plane can take place.

12. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fully-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radially-extending surface, and acooperating member on the container, having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fully-open condition, such engagementpreventing further rotation toward the fullyopen condition, the saidprojection member being capable of and requiring manual deflection ofthe said part providing the radially-extending surface out of itsgeneral plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further relative rotationtoward the fully'open condition, the said projection member providing aramp surface adapted to engage the said cooperating member upon rotationtoward the fully-closed condition and to deflect itself out of itsgeneral plane to permit rotation to the fully-closed condition, the saidprojection member having a first part thereof providing the saidradially-extending engaging surface and another part thereof connectingthe member to the cap, the said other part having at least a portionthereof of reduced dimensions to constitute a hinge portion between thesaid first part and the remainder of the other part, about which hingeportion the said deflection out of the general plant can take place.

13. In combination with a screw-capped container of the kind wherein thecap and the container are rotatable relative to one another about anaxis from a fully-open condition to a fully-closed condition, means forpreventing accidental removal of the cap comprising an axially anddownwardly extending projection member on the cap and having at least apart thereof providing a generally radially-extending surface, and acooperating member on the container having a generallyradially-extending surface engageable with the radially-extendingprojection surface after rotation of a predetermined extent from thefullyclosed condition toward the fully-open condition, such engagementpreventing further rotation toward the fullyopen condition, the saidprojection member being capable of and requiring manual deflection ofthe said part providing the radially-extending surface out of itsgeneral plane against the resilience of the material thereof fordisengagement of the said surfaces to permit further relative rotationtoward the fully-open condition, the said projection member beingprovided with a radiallyand axiallyextending surface for engagement by amanual operator to effect the said deflection of the part providing theradiallyextending surface, the said projection member having a firstpart thereof providing the said radially-extending engaging surface andanother part thereof connecting the member to the cap, the said otherpart having at least a portion thereof of reduced dimensions toconstitute a hinge portion between the said first part and the remainderof the other part, about which hinge portion the said deflection out ofthe general plane can take place.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,827,193 3/1958Martin 215-9 3,019,931 2/1962 Thornton 215-9 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL REMOVAL OF THE CAP FROM ASCREW-CAPPED CONTAINER WHEREIN THE CAP AND CONTAINER ARE ROTATABLERELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER ABOUT AN AXIS FROM A FULLY-OPENED CONDITION TO AFULLY-CLOSED CONDITION, COMPRISING A COLLAR ADAPTED FOR EMBRACEMENT OFTHE CAP AND PROVIDING AN AXIALLY AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTIONMEMBER HAVING AT LEAST A PART THEREOF PROVIDING A GENERALLYRADIALLY-EXTENDING SURFACE, AND A COLLAR ADAPTED FOR EMBRACEMENT OF THECONTAINER AND PROVIDING A COOPERATING RAMP MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLYRADIALLY-EXTENDING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE RADIALLYEXTENDINGPROJECTION SURFACE AFTER ROTATION OF A PREDETERMINED EXTENT FROM THEFULLY-CLOSED CONDITION TOWARD THE FULLY-OPENED CONDITION, SUCHENGAGEMENT PREVENTING FURTHER ROTATION TOWARD THE FULLY-OPEN CONDITION,THE SAID PROJECTION MEMBER BEING CAPABLE OF AND REQUIRING MANUALDEFLECTION OF THE SAID PART PROVIDING THE RADIALLY-EXTENDING SURFACE OUTOF ITS GENERAL PLANE AGAINST THE RESILIENCE OF THE MATERIAL THEREOF FORDISENGAGEMENT OF THE SAID SURFACES TO PERMIT FURTHER RELATIVE ROTATIONTOWARD THE FULLY-OPEN CONDITION, THE SAID COOPERATING MEMBER PROVIDING ARAMP SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SAID PART OF THE OTHER MEMBERPROVIDING THE RADIALLY-DISPOSED SURFACE UPON ROTATION TOWARD THEFULLY-CLOSED CONDITION AND TO DEFLECT THE SAID PROJECTION PART OUT OFITS GENERAL PLANE TO PERMIT ROTATION TO THE FULLY-CLOSED CONDITION.